Vernon D. Claiborne

Vernon Delmer Claiborne, of the Rocky Mound Community in Macon County, passed away on Monday morning, November 12, 2012 at Westmoreland Care & Rehabilitation Center at the age of 91 years, 4 months and 20 days.  Funeral services for Vernon Claiborne were conducted from the Anderson & Son Funeral Home in Lafayette at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 14^th with Brother Lionel Borders officiating.  Interment followed in the Anderson & Son Memorial Park.  Pallbearers were Tony Bentle, Stan Hall, Jerry Stone, Howard Ellis, Ray Comer Jr., Ray Comer Sr., Gary Claiborne and Chris “Woody” Woodard.  Vernon was born on Thursday, June 23, 1921, one of two children born to the late Eulas and Dora Whittemore Claiborne.  He was married to Dixie Lee Hall Claiborne, who preceded him in death on June 20, 2002.  To this union was born two sons, Ronald and Glenn.  As a young man of 21, he joined the United States Army and proudly served our country during World War II. In addition to being a farmer and raising English bulldogs, pheasants, extraordinary roosters, peafowls and bird dogs, Vernon was the owner/operator of the D.E. Claiborne & Sons store at the Gap of the Ridge for 25 years. He also worked at Carter Automotive for 10 years. He was of the Missionary Baptist faith. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Zollie Claiborne. He is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Ronald and Mary Claiborne of Lebanon, and Glenn and Betty Claiborne of the Cross Lanes Community; grandchildren, and their spouses, Gary and Kim Claiborne of Scituate, MA, Kelly Claiborne of Lebanon and Erica and Chris Woodard of the Rocky Mound Community; and three great-grandchildren, Adelaide Claiborne, Cidney Woodard and Eli Woodard.